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东方人 (dōng fāng rén) — Easterner; Asian person (especially from East Asia)

Definition

Literally 'person of the East,' used to refer collectively to people from East Asia. The English word 'Oriental' (from the raw dictionary) is dated and often considered offensive — prefer 'East Asian' or 'Easterner.'

noun
EasternerAsian person (especially from East Asia)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 东方人，。
    Zuò wéi yí gè dōng fāng rén, tā fēi cháng liǎo jiě yà zhōu wén huà.
    As an Easterner, he knows Asian culture very well.
  • 东方人。
    Zhè xiē dōng fāng rén péng you dōu hěn xǐ huan chī mǐ fàn.
    These Eastern friends all like to eat rice.
  • 东方人。
    Hěn duō dōng fāng rén xiàn zài yě xǐ huan hē kā fēi.
    Many Easterners now also like to drink coffee.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

东方east
东dōngeast方fāngdirection
偏正Modifier + head
人rénperson

“东” (east), “方” (direction), and “人” (person) give a person from the eastern direction.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 東; 东 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 東 originally drew a full bag tied at both ends. The simplified 东 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 东 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 方 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →
Appears in
Ethnic Groups & Nationalities

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